CHAPTER XX 



DISCOVERY OF THE. RIVER KATARINA AND LAKE PEARSON 



Fears of winter coming on — Stormy days — Quiet nights — Picnics in Patagonia 

 — Start by niglit — Hellgate by starlight — Camp on beach — Advance up North 

 Fjord — Approach to River Katarina — Shallow water — Leave launch — Advance 

 with canvas boat — Tameness of huemul — Anecdote of Canoe Indians — White- 

 faced ducks — First sight of lake— Bernardo falls ill — Immoderate bags of 

 so-called sportsmen — Problem of shrinkage of Lake Argentine — Discovery 

 of Lake Pearson — Description — Bernardo better — Comet — Obliged to turn 

 back — Hellgate by firelight. 



After our return from our trip to the South Fjord the weather 

 became very threatening, and I was beset with many anxious fears 

 that the winter might set in rigidly, and entirely preclude any 

 attempt to solve the problem of the yet unvisited and unknown 

 river and lake whose existence was conjectured at the end of the 

 North Fjord. Snow fell and blocked the pass to Punta Arenas,* 

 which was our south road to the coast, but luckily a milder spell 

 followed, the snow melted and I was encouraged to remain just a 

 little longer to carry out my original idea of making another effort 

 to thoroughly explore the North Fjord. 



Storms, however, swept over the lake, and although we under- 

 took a couple of short expeditions in the launch, we waited for better 

 days before again facing the difficulties of the Hellgate passage. 

 Again and again we saw squalls and waterspouts come curling 

 down the channel between the frowning cliffs. Day followed day 

 with heavy winds, the coming of the light seemed to be the signal 

 for the gales to rise, whereas on many nights the weather was fairly 



'•' Burbury made his way south just in the nick of time. I was obliged to send him 

 to the coast to meet Scrivenor, who was, according to my arrangements, about to 

 leave for England. 



